Feature stories
East Meets West Although North Dakota and Boston College are approximately 1700 miles apart, the two teams are building quite a rivalry. As part of a four-year agreement, the Eagles and Sioux will face off once against next year each regular season. More importantly, though, the teams have a knack for meeting each other in … Read more
When St. Louis was vying to host the Frozen Four, serving youth hockey was a key part of the bid. This week, the city made good on its promise, Ed Trefzger finds.
Boston College’s Dan Bertram had had two-goal games before, but not for a while and not on a stage like this. Dave Hendrickson reports.
Though Boston College, riding a 13-game winning streak, is easily the hottest team in college hockey, things haven’t always been that smooth this season for the Eagles. At the midway point, not only were things not going well on the ice, the team’s makeup and unity was extremely tested when head coach Jerry York stripped … Read more
Diminutive Jeff Lerg helped send his Michigan State Spartans into the national title game, showing Dave Hendrickson and the college hockey world that size doesn’t necessarily matter.
There wasn’t one critical instant in Michigan State’s comeback win over Maine, but there was a key stretch. Todd D. Milewski looks at the Spartans’ change of pace Thursday.
Michigan State head coach Rick Comley is no stranger to the Frozen Four, but this is his first trip with the Spartans. Dave Starman finds that the NCAA championship holds unique memories for the Comley family.
He may not have captained his team to a championship, but Maine’s captain, Michel Léveillé, captained his life in his four years at Maine. Dave Starman looks at his journey.
It may be a much different squad than last year’s Sioux, but Paula C. Weston finds that it’s not a surprise for North Dakota to be back in the Frozen Four.
‘What If?’ That’s always the question, and it certainly was no different for Maine after its semifinal loss to Michigan State. Jim Connelly looks at the dreaded scenario.
He traveled an unusual path to get there, but in the end there was no doubt about Chris Lawrence as Michigan State captain. Sean Caruthers reports.
Spartan Standards In 25 NCAA tournament appearances, Michigan State now improves to 27-28-1, including a 4-2 record under head coach Rick Comley in three trips. Comley has an overall 14-11 record in NCAA tournament games at the Spartans’ helm and at Northern Michigan. The Spartans will try for their third national championship Saturday; their previous … Read more
As Maine’s top goaltender Ben Bishop sat injured during the stretch run, watching his Black Bears lose the final four games of the season, including the Hockey East quarterfinal series to Massachusetts, one thought sat in his mind. “Once we found out we were in the tournament, I really just wanted to get back out … Read more
This is the first year in Frozen Four history that no No. 1 seeds have advanced to the championship tournament, and there’s a feeling in St. Louis that this is anyone’s title to capture. Said UND head coach Dave Hakstol, “This is a Frozen Four where we have four teams that are realistically playing their … Read more
Three of the four teams in St. Louis this week played in last year’s Frozen Four. The exception? Michigan State, making its first appearance in the national semifinals since 2001. “We’re thrilled to be here, obviously,” said MSU head coach Rick Comley, who then cautioned, “I think our goal is not just to be here, … Read more
When you think of rivalries in college hockey, Michigan-Michigan State, Minnesota-North Dakota and Boston College-Boston University all come to mind. Regional relations are paramount, in general, when it comes to building a rivalry. And then there’s North Dakota and Boston College For the sixth time since 1999, the Eagles and Fighting Sioux will lock horns … Read more
North Dakota vs. Boston College Thursday, 7 p.m. CT, Scottrade Center, St. Louis On Thursday, the 7 p.m. semifinal at the Scottrade Center features two teams who are indisputably the hottest in the nation. In that contest Boston College, winner of 12 straight, faces off against North Dakota, loser of just two of its last … Read more
Maine vs. Michigan State Thursday, 3 p.m. CT, Scottrade Center, St. Louis One year ago, Michigan State and Maine battled in the NCAA tournament, but the stakes are a touch higher for Thursday’s rematch. Last season, the matchup came in the East Regional final, when Maine built a three-goal lead before holding off the Spartans … Read more
If the clothes make the man, then North Dakota’s got a good thing going in its new black jerseys, in which the Fighting Sioux are 6-0 this season. Patrick C. Miller gets the lowdown.
St. Louis, host city for this year’s Frozen Four, is developing more and more college talent as the area’s amateur hockey scene continues to grow. Jim Stevens reports.